It’s been three-and-a-half years since I moved to Norfolk from Kalamazoo, Michigan, to start a new life for myself and begin my career in the animal rights movement.

I graduated from college in April 2007 from Western Michigan University and was quickly lured to Hampton Roads by an exciting job opportunity with PETA, promises of a blizzard-less forecast, and vegan-friendly hotspots galore.

After a few years of soaking up the culture of my new surroundings, my life started calling me in a new direction. West, to be exact. Last year, PETA announced that they’d be moving my department to Los Angeles, and I’m finally making the harrowing journey this weekend, on December 4. While the stress of moving dances in my stomach and the anticipation of immersing myself into the glam and sunshine that I’ve always craved is sneaking into my mind more every day, I also find myself nostalgically sad to leave this city that has been my home during a transitional and monumental time in my life.

When I moved to Norfolk, I left behind a life that had many aspects I wanted to forget. I charged east in my U-Haul and never looked back. Walking through the halls of the PETA office during my first days as an employee instilled hope in me that has lasted ever since. The camaraderie of bonding with other compassionate vegans and strong-willed activists was the push I needed to gain back my strength after a tough chapter in my life. The warm, electric air and sea breeze washed over me and helped me reinvent myself.

Throughout my time in Hampton Roads, I’ve had some of the best memories of my life. As a goodbye to my life as an AltDaily columnist and a gentle farewell to the city that revived my spirit, I thought it’d be appropriate to share my favorite (and least favorite) moments in a quick look back, and also what I still have yet to accomplish.

My Favorite Moments as a Norfolk Girl

• The food. Discovering the mouthwatering vegan options in Ghent’s eclectic restaurants is at the top of my list. From La Bella to 37th & Zen to Sam’s, I’ve tried them all (and wrote about several), and am pretty sure I’ll never again be lucky enough to live in a city that boasts vegan hotspots on literally every street corner. Yes, at times I’ve been viewed as that vegan bitch, but the solidarity that it represents and the new levels my taste buds have been opened to are truly unforgettable.
• The music. I had the pleasure of seeing many concerts during my Norfolk life, from Ani DiFranco at the NorVa to the Black Eyed Peas at the Hampton Coliseum. The diverse range of concerts and intimate setting of certain venues remains one of my favorite things about the area.
  

  Outside the Norva | Image via Creative Commons

• The festivals. The peanut festival, the Scottish music festival, Stockley Gardens Art Festival, the Indian Festival, and more. Fun, random, and local; Hampton Roads’ many festivals and city events helped keep this area unique.
• The community. The number of vegans per square mile in Norfolk has to be off the chart, and growing up in a small Midwest community, it was such a breath of fresh air to finally be surrounded by like minded and passionate people.

My Hampton Roads Bucket List

• Riding the Portsmouth ferry. During my whole Hampton Roads existence, I’ve never once ridden the ferry from Norfolk to Portsmouth, and have heard nothing but positive things about the relaxing, fun experience. I plan to cross this one off the list before I leave.
• The Wave. I went to The Wave for the first time just a couple of weeks ago and it was bittersweet. Despite how much fun I had, I couldn’t believe I hadn’t gone earlier. The music was fun, the boys were cute, and the drinks were cheap. Why didn’t I do this sooner?!
• The Boardwalk. While I have ventured to Virginia Beach’s Oceanfront on several particularly scorching days, I have yet to have the true boardwalk experience. I guess I’ll have to rely on Santa Monica now for my fried dough and arcade cravings.
• The Harrison Opera House. This venue is literally across the street from my apartment, and I’ve never gone. I’m not necessarily a fan of opera, but it’s something I wish I’d experienced one time at least, especially considering that it’s in my backyard.

The Two Things I Won’t Miss About Norfolk

• The dating scene. All the local compassionate hotties seem to be taken, uninterested, or uninteresting. While it’s been a great environment to make friends, it’s been less than stellar on the dating front. Maybe it’s more me than Norfolk? But I like to think that I’m pretty fabulous, so let’s just blame the area, shall we? 
• The floods. My car drowned last year in one of Norfolk’s infamous floods and ever since then, I’m totally gun shy about driving even in mild rainstorms. The damn tide rises so fast during storms that I hate the constant worry of impending water damage. At this rate, the LA fires and earthquakes don’t even seem so daunting.

While there are definite pros and a couple of annoying cons about Norfolk, to me it will always be the city that welcomed me when I felt unwelcomeable. It will be my first post-college home, my first solo living experience, and where I ate my first piece of sushi. The rich memories I’ll carry with me from Hampton Roads will continue to make Norfolk a nostalgic, unique, comforting place in my mind, and I’ll deeply miss the life I’ve created for myself here.

As I welcome this new challenge and prepare for this cross-country relocation, I can only remain thankful that the strength and confidence I’ve built from my three-and-a-half years in Norfolk have made me a better person. And during this move, I can finally enjoy the ride instead of grasping to the desperation of creating a fresh start.